Terminal block for lamp mounting



Dec. 19, 1967 v H. EGE

TERMINAL BLOCK FOR LAMP MOUNTING 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1965 INVENTOR HANS EGE ATT'YS H. EGE

TERMINAL BLOCK FOR LAMP MOUNTING Dec. 19, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1965 INVE N TOR United States Patent Ofiice 3,359,414 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 3,359,414 TERMINAL BLOCK FOR LAMP MOUNTING Hans Ege, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Underwriters Safety Device Co., Chicago, III., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 485,901 6 Claims. (Cl. 240-52) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lamp mounting terminal block for precise angular positioning of fluorescent type lamps irrespective of variance in the diameter of the conducting pins. The sockets form the mounting and conductor as well, leading to a fixed terminal on the rear of the terminal block. Means is provided to orient the sockets at one end relative to the blocks, while the sockets on the opposite terminal block are self-locating.

This invention relates to a ganged lamp mounting arrangement and novel terminal blocks therefor. More specifically, the present invention relates to a lamp mounting arrangement particularly adapted for precision mounting of a plurality of fluorescent-type lamps with each in a particular angular relationship to the other.

Precision mounting of a plurality of lamps in a ganged array is a current problem of some concern in the photo duplicating industry. The need has arisen for a mounting for a bank of fluorescent-type lamps, each having a longitudinally narrow band-like extending sector which is uncoated. Each of the ganged lamps is to be angularly arranged relative to the other to focus the associated uncoated narrow band-like sector on a particular region of interest. Fluorescent lamps made in accordance with known principles are used and include two axially projecting eccentrically disposed pins at opposite ends of the lamp. While the pins may be precisely located relative to the uncoated narrow band-like sector, each of the individual conductors or pins at the opposite ends of the lamp may vary in diameter, making precise mounting of the lamp difficult.

The present invention provides a novel mounting arrangement for a plurality of lamps having the characteristics outlined above. The lamps are precisely oriented relative to each other in order that the narrow band-like sector may be directed to a predetermined area. One specific use of such ganged lamp arrangement is in duplicating machines.

The present invention also includes a novel terminal block arrangement which provides means to precisely mount lamps of the type described, regardless of the lack of uniformity in lamp conductor pin diameters. The novel terminal block arrangement not only permits precise mounting of the individual lamps but is also designed to facilitate easy and expedient installation. replacement and removal. The salientfeatures of the present invention may be more readily appreciated by a consideration of the objects achieved and a detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and It is a still further object of this invention to provide 1 a new and improved terminal block arrangement particularly adapted for precision mounting of fluorescent-type lamps.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved terminal block having means to facilitate a the rapid mounting of lamps having conductor pins of diverse diameters.

Additional objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art who read the description and study the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a broken fragmentary top plan view of a gange lamp mounting (arrangement;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the ganged lamp mounting arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 1 illustrating the right-hand terminal block with the lamps removed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view taken generally along the lines 5--5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the block of FIG. 5 with the back cover plate removed;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken generally along the lines 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mounting socket of the type illustrated in FIGS. 5-7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a rear cover plate viewed with the terminal block shown at opposite sides in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view taken generally along the lines 99 of FIG. 9.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a lamp mounting arrangement is indicated generally by reference numeral 10 and includes a plurality of lamps 11 arranged in a ganged or parallel array, being mounted between a right-hand terminal block assembly 12 and left-hand terminal block assembly 13. The terminal block assembly 12 is carried on a mounting bracket 14 (shown fragmentarily) while a similar mounting bracket 15 serves to mount the lefthand terminal block assembly 13.

Each lamp 11 is provided with end caps 16 having pinlike conductors 17 and 18 projecting axially therefrom as may be seen in the cross sectional views of FIGS. 4 and 7. As shown in FIG. 1, each of the lamps includes the usual cylindrical glass envelope 19 capped at opposite ends by end caps 16. An opaque coating 20 covers a major portion of the entire inner circumference of the envelope 19, interrupted by a narrow band-like uncoated section shown at 21, which section is precisely located relative to the associated pins 17 and 18. The positioning of the bandlike sections 21 relative to each other in a ganged array is one of the more important features of this invention.

The lamps 11 are manufactured with the band precisely positioned relative to the pin-like conductors 17 and 18, such that each lamp is identical to the other. Accordingly, the corresponding sockets or pin receiving members in one of the terminal blocks serves to mount each lamp in precise orientation relative to the other in order to perform the stated function.

As seen in FIG. 2, the mounting bracket 15 is provided with eliptical apertures 22 through which terminal members 23 and 24 extend. The terminal members 23 and 24 are adapted for receiving quick attachable-type connections to supply power tothe lamps, such connectors being of conventional design. Similar terminals 23 and 24 are provided on the right-hand terminal block assembly 12 and bear identical reference characters inasmuch as the cover plates carrying them are identical. The details of this construction will become better understood after a description of FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the right hand terminal block 12 which is shown in elevation in FIG. 1. FIG. 3, taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1, shows the terminal block 12 in free body form, that is, with the mounting bracket 14 and all the lamps 16 removed therefrom. The terminal block assembly 12 has a front portion 25 which is integral with the main body of the housing.

Pairs of openings 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 are provided in the front face portion 25. Each pair of openings 26-31 is arranged so a plane lying in the axes of the pair of openings is at a different angle relative to the adjacent pairs of openings. When the pins 17 and 18 on the lamps 11 are received in the openings, the band-like sector 21 of each lamp will be appropriately arranged to illuminate the desired area.

As seen in FIG. 4, the opening 31 in the front portion 25 is larger in diameter than the pins 17 and 18 with each opening merging with a cylindrical portion 32 and 33 of increased diameter. The cylindrical openings 32 and 33 each slidably receive a ferrule 34 and 35, respectively, which have a cylindrical exterior contour and are identical in all respects. The ferrule 34 is shown in cross section and is provided with a cylindrical bore 36 forming a shoulder 37 merging with a frusto-con-ical or outwardly flaring portion 38. The maximum dimension of the frusto-conical portion 38 is greater than the maximum diameter of the associated pin while the minimum diameter of the frustoconical portion adjacent the shoulder 37 is less than that of the smallest pin. Accordingly, when the pin 17 is received therein, good electrical contact will be made and the conducting spring 40 will be compressed, being bottomed against a lateral projection 41 on the back cover plate 43 of the terminal. The spring 40 may be of copper beryllium or other suitable types of conducting material and may be snugly received in the cylindrical bore 36 at one end as well as tightly engaging the upstanding terminal 42.

Even though pins 17 and 18 are of diverse diameter which is oftentimes the case, the lamp will have the associated bandlike section precisely located, since the angular position is determined by a plane lying in the longitudinal axis of the frusto-conical bore 38 of each hole. In FIG. 4, pin 18 is shown as being of increased size to demonstrate that while the ferrule 35 compresses the spring a greater amount, the orientation of the band-like sector 21 is unaffected.

As seen in the cross sectional view of FIG. 4, the terminals 23 and 24 are carried in a back cover plate 43 which is held by means of eyelets or rivets 44 to the main body 45 of the terminal block 12. Counter bored portions 46 are provided in the face of the block and receive knurled nuts 47 with a press fit. Cap screws 48 extend through the mounting brackets 14, main body of the back cover plate 43, main body 45 of the mounting block into threaded engagement with the knurled nut 47. Precise and expedient mounting of the terminal block assembly 12 is thus assured.

A seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, a back cover plate 43 is of the same exterior configuration as the terminal blocks 12 and 13 and has conducting terminal members 23 and 24 arranged to cooperate with each of the socket openings 26-31 on terminal block 12 and socket openings on the terminal block 13. The uniformity in design permits interchangeability of the back cover plate 43. Each conducting member has an upstanding portion 42 with lateral projecting portions 40 at the base. The lateral projecting portion 40 assists in mounting the associated terminal to the cover plate 43 and serves to provide a good contact with the beryllium copper spring used in each of the terminal blocks.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the back cover plate is riveted or otherwise suitably joined to the main body of the associated terminal block to provide a completed housing or subassembly adapted for mounting in'the associated bracket.

In FIGS. and 6 is shown a front and rear view of the left-hand terminal block 13. The terminal block has a front elevational configuration similar to that of the righthand terminal block 12 and includes a plurality of socket members 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55. The sockets 50-55 oooperate with the lamps carried in the openings 26-31 with each of the sockets 50-55 being axially movable within an associated bore carried in the terminal block 13.

Each of the sockets 50-55 is of uniform design, and as seen in the free body perspective view of FIG. 8, socket 55 includes a pair of openings 56 and 57 in an end face portion thereof and at the lower extremity has a portion of increased diameter 58 having laterally projecting ears or lugs 59 and 60. As seen in the bottom plan view of FIG. 6, the cars 59 and 60 are received in diametrically opposed longitudinally extending splines or slots 61 and 62 in the socket receiving opening 63. Similar slots are provided for each socket member, and are formed at opposite ends of a diameter which is at an angle that approximates the angle of the corresponding openings 26-31. Lugs 59 and 60 are loosely received in the slots so that the socket member may move angularly through several degrees to permit it to seek the appropriate alignment which is determined by the righthand terminal block 12.

As seen in FIG. 7, the socket 55 is provided with cylindrical bores 64 and 65 which receive identical button members 66 and 67 having respective head portions 68 and 69 adapted for contact with the conducting pins 17 and 18 on the lamp 11. Each of the buttons 66, 67 has a cylindrical section 70 and 71 which receives one end of a conducting spring 72 and 73. The opposite end of each of the springs 72 and 73 is bottomed against upstanding portions 42 on the back cover plate 43 of the terminal board. The back cover plate 43 of the left hand terminal board is identical to the back cover plate 43 used with the right-hand terminal block 12 and described in conjunction with FIGS. 9 and 10, being held to terminal block 13 in the same manner as described with the terminal block assembly 12 in FIG. 4. When the lamp 11 is installed, conductors 17 and 18 are positioned in the appropriate sockets 26-31 in the right-hand terminal block and the floating socket 50-55 in the left-hand terminal block assembly 13 is depressed and the pins on the end of the lamp positioned within the associated openings on each of the sockets. The socket in the lefthand terminal block then moves to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 to engage the end 16 of the lamp with the springs maintaining the socket in the position shown and the conducting button members 66 and 67 against the end of the conductors 17 and 18 on the lamp 11. It is to be appreciated that this arrangement permits the lamps to be expeditiously and accurately mounted. The lamps are easily replaced or changed as the case may be and when installed, are rigidly held. Obviously, the foregoing principles are applicable to orienting lamps to focus all narrow band-like sections on the same area or to focus the narrow band-like sectors on adjacent areas for uniform illumination.

Upon a consideration of the foregoing, it will become obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the invention embodied herein. Therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lamp mounting arrangement for mounting a plurality of lamps, each lamp having a narrow band-like portion which is directed to a pre-selected area, said lamps being mounted in juxtaposed parallel relation with the narrow band-like portion of each precisely oriented relative to the other lamps, said mounting arrangement comprising a first and second terminal block, said first terminal block having a front face portion with aligned pairs of openings arranged to receive conductor pins P jecting from each of said lamps, ferrule means positioned in said openings in said first terminal block, each f said ferrule means having a frusto-conical socket portion in communication with the associated one of said openings in said front face portion, said frusto-conical portion being of decreasing diameter as it extends away from said front portion of said first terminal block, conducting spring means urging said ferrule means towards said front portion to maintain the same in contact with conducting pins on each of said lamps, opposite ends of said spring means being bottomed on a connector, and means on said second terminal block to co-operate with the opposite end of each of said lamps while simultaneously urging each of said lamps towards said first terminal block assembly.

2. The lamp mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein said means on said second terminal block to co-operate with the end of each of said lamps comprises an axially movable socket means, a pair of apertures carried on each of said sockets, conducting button means slidably received in each of said sockets, spring means biasing said button means into engagement with conducting pins received in said apertures in said socket, each of said sockets being mounted for limited angular movement to permit said first terminal block to determine the angular orientation of said lamp.

3. In a lamp mounting arrangement wherein a plurality of lamps having axially protruding conducting pins are disposed in parallel juxtaposition, the improvement comprising first and second terminal block assemblies to mount said lamps in predetermined angular relation, each of said lamps having a narrow band-like portion which is directed to project on a pre-selected area, said lamps being mounted in juxtaposed parallel relation with a narrow band-like portion of each precisely oriented relative to the other lamps, said first terminal block having a front face portion with a series of pairs of apertures therein, each pair of apertures angularly arranged relative to the other and being adapted to receive the conducting pins on one of said lamps, ferrule means in each of said apertures having a frusto-conical bore to receive one of said pins, spring means urging said ferrule toward said front face portion and means on said second terminal block assembly to urge said lamps toward said first terminal block.

4. A lamp mounting arrangement for mounting a plurality of lamps, each lamp having a narrow band-like portion which is directed to a pre-selected area, said lamps being mounted in juxtaposed parallel relation with an uncoated narrow band-like portion of each precisely oriented relative to the other, each of said lamps having two conducting pins at opposite ends thereof, said mounting arrangement comprising a first and second terminal block, said first terminal block having a front face portion with aligned pairs of openings arranged to receive conductor pins projecting from each of said lamps, each pair of openings being angulated relative to the other, ferrule means positioned in each of said openings in said first terminal block and communicating with the associated one of said openings in said front face portion, conducting spring means urging said ferrule means towards said front portion to maintain the same in contact with said conducting pins on each of said lamps, opposite ends of said spring means being bottomed on a connector, and means on said second terminal block to co-operate with the conducting pins on the opposite end of each of said lamps to supply power thereto while simultaneously urging each of said lamps towards said first terminal block assembly.

5. The lamp mounting arrangement of claim 4 wherein said means on said second terminal block to co-operate with the end of each of said lamps comprises an axially movable socket means, a pair of apertures carried on each of said sockets, conducting button means slidably received in each of said sockets, spring means biasing said button means into engagement with conducting pins received in said apertures in said socket, each of said sockets being mounted for limited angular movement to permit said first terminal block to determine the angular orientation of said lamp.

6. A lamp mounting arrangement for mounting a plurality of lamps, each lamp having a narrow uncoated band-like portion which is directed to a pre-selected area, said lamps being mounted in juxtaposed parallel relation with said narrow band-like portion of each precisely oriented relative to the other lamps, said mounting arrangement comprising a first and second terminal block, said first terminal block having a front face portion with aligned pairs of openings arranged to receive conductor pins projecting from each of said lamps, an enlarged cylindrical bore communicating with said opening, ferrule means mounted in each of said cylindrical bores and being biased toward the associated one of said openings by conducting spring means, each of said ferrule means having a frusto-conical socket portion in communication with the associated one of said openings in said front face portion, said frusto-conical portion being of decreasing diameter as it extends away from said front portion of said first terminal block, said conducting spring means having one end thereof urging said ferrule means towards said front portion to maintain the frusto-conical socket portion in contact with conducting pins on each of said lamps and the opposite end of said spring means being bottomed on a connector, and means on said second terminal block to receive conductor pins on the opposite end of each of said lamps while simultaneously urging each of said lamps towards said first terminal block assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,589,677 3/1952 Darney 339-55 2,644,911 7/ 1953 Hultgren 339-57 3,302,059 1/1967 Haire 240--51.11

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,092,510 11/1954 France.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. RICHARD SHEER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A LAMP MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR MOUNTING A PLURALITY OF LAMPS, EACH LAMP HAVING A NARROW BAND-LIKE PORTION WHICH IS DIRECTED TO A PRE-SELECTED AREA, SAID LAMPS BEING MOUNTED IN JUXTAPOSED PARALLEL RELATION WITH THE NARROW BAND-LIKE PORTION OF EACH PRECISELY ORIENTED RELATIVE TO THE OTHER LAMPS, SAID MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A FIRST AND SECOND TERMINAL BLOCK, SAID FIRST TERMINAL BLOCK HAVING A FRONT FACE PORTION WITH ALIGNED PAIRS OF OPENINGS ARRANGED TO RECEIVE CONDUCTOR PINS PROJECTING FROM EACH OF SAID LAMPS, FERRULE MEANS POSITIONED IN SAID OPENINGS IN SAID FIRST TERMINAL BLOCK, EACH OF SAID FERRULE MEANS HAVING A FRUSTO-CONICAL SOCKET PORTION IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE ASSOCIATED ONE OF 